Hydraulic tie puller



y H. B. HUGHES 2,283,929

HYDRAULIC TIEPULLER Filed Jan. 17, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F y y Wa gm A u RNEY.

2 26, 1942- H. B. HUGHES 2,283,929

HYDRAULIC TIE 'runhm Filed Jan. 17, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I NV EN TOR.

RY B. HUG is yx/ May 26, 1942. H. B. HUGHE'S 2,283,929

HYDRAULI C T I E FULLER Filed Jan. 17, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 75 74 NVENTOR.

ARRY B. H GfHES Patented May 26, 1942 UNITED STATES FATE T OFFICE My invention relates to fluid operated tie pulling devices, and has-reference particularly to a device that is adapted for being moved along a rail track and for being spotted uponthe rails ,of the track and for imparting'endwise movement of the ties disposed within the track to aid in their expeditious removal.

Heretofore, it has been the general custom in the replacing of railway ties to loosen the ballast disposed at either side of the tie and beneath the tie and to then remove the tie by hand. This is a laborious task, requiring great physical effort. In addition thereto, the disturbance of the ballast in the track at either side of the tie and beneath the tie results in an uneven track support in the density of the ballast material to thereby disturb the safety of the track; one that affects train operation thereover, and particularly passenger trains. This was not so important when passenger trains moved at nominal speeds, but in these times of high speed operation for trains, the'maintaining of the track in precise alignment is of fundamental importance. economic stress in railroad operation and control, it is necessary to practice economies in all lines of railroad operation.

Through the use of my' new and improved tie puller, the amount of physical efiort required of the section crew is greatly reduced, and the maintaining of the rails of the track in precise alignment results.

Also through the use of my new and improved device, an old tie may be removed and a new tie be replaced in the track without unduly dis turbing the ballast in the road bed. By the older methods of hand removal, because of the disturbance in the rail bed, it wasnot found expeditious to remove single ties even though they had disintegrated. Or, if a single tie were removed, many times adjacent ties were also removed in order to maintain a uniform density of ballast within the track.

Through the use of my new and improved device, it is now possible to remove single ties and to replace the same with a new tie with very little disturbance to the ballast being required.

Also through the use oi my new and improved tie puller, it is now possible to remove the tie and to replace the same with a fraction of the time being required in the operation that was formerly required to thereby permit the complete removal of a tie and the replacement of the same with another tie between passage of Also in'these times ofmade.

trains thereover. This also is important in the 'safety of passenger'train operations at high speeds. I

I am aware that heretofore mechanical track jacks have been used, and that some attempts have been made to provide tie pullers that are strictly mechanical in'their operation, but I am not aware that hydraulic tie pullers have been In most of the tie pullers heretofore used, the tie puller was mounted upon but one of the rails of the track and where-substantial pulling effort was imparted to the tie, the kink- .ing of the rail or the spreading of the rail members many times resulted.

I have overcome this objection and this tendency in. my new and improved device by imparting like strain to both of the rails simultaneously. v I

In order to lessen the. physical strain upon the .track crew, I have also provided a prime mover for performing the actual work in the tie removal. This is also a great aid to the track crew particularly in those sections of the country where high temperatures and great humidity are experienced in the summer, and where extremely low temperatures are experienced in the winter time.

Through the use of my new and improved device, single ties may be removed or a group of ties in the same location may be removed with equal facility and with a minimum of time being consumed. I

Also, my device being portable, it may be used by several section crews throughout the season to thereby limit the number of tie pullers being ,required to be purchased by the railroads using the same.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential' elements of which are set forth in the appended claims, and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. I is a side view of one of my new and improved devices of the hand operated tyne shown in position for the removal of a tie from placement.

Fig. II is a top plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. I.

Fig. III is an end view of the power driven supported device shown in place for being rolled along the track for placement and illustrating the same as being used in the forcing of an old tie from placement and the pulling of a new tie into its place and position.

Fig. IV is a plan view of the assembled device.

Fig. V is a sectional side view of the device illustrated in Fig. IV.

Fig. VI is a side view, partially in section, of the assembled device illustrating the same in place and inposition for ejecting atie from placement.

Fig. VII is a partial plan view of one of the ejector heads shown in placed position.

Fig. VIII is a sectional side view of .thehead illustrated in Fig. VII.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Heretofore in power devices for the removal of ties from placement in railway tracks, theejector, shoe has been made to engage the top side of thejtie, theengagement being made through-the "application of downward pressure upon the ejector head. This mode of procedure created added:frictionbetweenthe bottom of the tie and theballast structure upon which the tie rested to thereby require greater and substantially more pressure being'applied in the ejecting 'of the tie.

To overcomethis objection I have provided the ejector head so as to engage the topside'o'f 'the' tie andithe. opposite-vertical edges of the tie simultaneously .to prevent undue downward pres- 'sure to be applied to the top of 'the tie. -By engaging the side walls of the tie with the ejector head itpermits thecarrying of the tie in suspension during its ejection to thereby lessen the amount of ejection force required in the pushing of the tie from .itsbed and its placement within "the track.

'In. devices .for'this "purpose itis equally important to provide means through the application of whichthe new tie maybe placed in position after the'old'tie has-been removed. This I provideby having an applicator 'head that may be applied'to the older tie between the rails and to the end of the tie'disposed outside of the rail so that in the placing of the new tie inposition .in the final stages of the operation, the old tie may be finally pushed from placement as the new tieis finallyplaced in its ultimate and final position.

In Figs. I and.II I have illustrated one of my new and. improved tie ejectors that is manually powered,,i1lustrating the same upon a railway track comprised'of rails land 2. The-rails are spaced apart in the usual manner and are supportedupon ties. I have here, shown the device .as being comprised of ahead 3. The head 3 has a foot *4 disposed upon itsbottom end to adapt the same for engaging oneside of the ball of therail. I. In order to prevent, the kinking of the rail l I have found .it-desirable to'provide .a tensioning member 5 thatiis securedto the head 3 and outwardlyextends therefrom to' provide a boot 6 that also engages .the ball ofthe .rail 2. In order to compensate for 'diiferent gages. of the rails which are not always spaced apart .in like.a'mount, Iplace a turn buckle I within the tensioning'mernber 5 which is comprised of two parts as illustrated at 5 and 5A to provide adjusting means between the boot 6 and the foot 4.

.Ahydraulic cylinder 8 is provided. The hydraulic cylinder 8 is 'hingedly supported to the head 3 by pintle shafts 9 that outwardly extend from the opposite sides of cylinder 6. The cylinder 8 has a piston not here shown to which is secured the piston rod [0. The piston rod I0 is made of the ram type, The ejector head II is hingedly secured to the piston rod In by a wrist pin l2. The head H has a plurality of teeth IZA disposed upon its underside that are fashioned to engage the top of the tie. In order to provide a substantial support for the cylinder 8 I provide a supporting arm l3 that is secured to the head 3 and outwardly extends therefrom. A cushioning support as a coil spring 14 is disposed between the end of the arm l3 and the cylinder to thereby compensate for the position of the cylinder and to support the same in adjusted posi- "tion and to'permit the same being hingedly adjusted about the pintle shafts 9. A pumping cylinder I5 is mounted relative to the primary cy1inder 8. The pumping cylinder l5 has a piston disposed therein. A piston rod I6 is secured to the-piston and outwardlyextends therefrom.

'--A pump handle I T-lSfprovided. The pump handle 11 -is-'secured -on its lower-end toa link I8. The link I8 connects the lower end ofthe handle I! to the outer -end-ofthe piston rod It. The linkjfl is in articulate relationship relative to the handle 1T and-the piston red It. The

handle is supported upona-pin 19. A sump 20 is made available for securing of fluid for oper- "ating the piston -within the cylinder 8. A suitable piping ZI communicates thepump l5 with the sump 20. Piping' 22-and 23 communicate the '*valve24 with the respective ends'of the cylinder 8. -When theejector head -I I is in contactwith the tie 25 an =up-and down-movement may be imparted to'the cylinder 8, and to the-ejector 'head I I by the hand manipulation-of the cylinder' to'therebyaid in the ejection of the tie 25 *from placement and position.

In'order to furtherstabilize the rails l and 2 a bridging board 26'is provided that is-made to engage the ends oftheties-Z'I and28 with a gap in the board 26 through which the tie 25 is pushed. The-tie puller is placed adjacent to the 'tie '25that is being pushed from placement. A hand lever 29 is provided-for the manipulation of the valve 24 and to predetermine the direction of movement of the piston to be actuated when the'operating fluid is pumped from the pump l5 into the cylinder 8.

In Figs.III to VI inclusive I-have shown a wheel supported chassis30. A'shaft 3| passes through suitable journal bearings, and suitable fiangedwheels '32 are'mounted upon the respective shafts 3|;the shafts'being two 'in number and the wheels-being four in number for each tie puller. The top .33 and the downwardly extending head supports 341and' thechassis are supported upon pistons'35. The-pistons '35 have a piston head coveringifi. The pistons 35 operate within suitable cylinders 31 with eachof the pistons having apiston rod 38 that'operates as a guide within the'journal blocks 39 through which the respective shafts- 3| pass. engaging heads,'here shown' as four in number,

A plurality of tie at 40, 4|, -42,'and43 'are'mountedupona ram shaft 44. The ramshaft44 is also'a pistonrod with the piston rod running longitudinally through a cylinder 45. The "cylinder 45 has heads disposed in its opposite ends'with suitable packing clamps 46 and-4T. 'A piston 48 is fixedly positionedupon the pistonram shaft 44 and is adapted'for being reciprocated longitudinallyof the-cylinder 45. It isof importance in devices of this-kind that the-respective balls of the respec means for moving the jaw 66 toward and away tive rails 49 and 50 be engaged when pressure is to be applied in the pulling or the pushing of the tie in placement to prevent the pushing of the respective rails from alignment and for preventing the disturbing of the track gage.

It is also of fundamental importance in the pushing of the old tie from placement or the pulling of the new tie into placement that a minimum of downward pressure be applied to the tie to create added frictional resistance between the bottom of the tie and the ballast in which the same has been or is to be imbedded by the forceable engaging of the respective heads 40 to 43 inclusive, with the top surface of the tie and with the opposite vertical edges of the tie. Then, by raising the chassis and the tie engaging heads by the admission of a fluid into the cylinder 31 and below the piston 35, the tie may be carried in suspension and with its top surface in contact and engagement with the underside of the base of the respective rails 49 and 50, to thereby prevent undue friction being developed between the underside of the tie and the ballast.

It is also important in order to conserve time and to prevent other ballast falling into the bed from which the old tie is to be removed. That is accomplished by the end abutment of the tie that is being removed and the tie 52 that is to replace the tie 5|, being made to engage each other as illustrated at 53 in Fig. V so that as the new tie is being drawn into place as the old tie is being removed that an uninterrupted tie be maintained, to thereby eliminate and prevent ballast entering the tie bed and to further prevent the disturbing of the ballast already in place; to eliminate insofar as possible the necessity of tamping the tie and the ballast by the section crew.

While in Figs. I and II I have shown a power device of the hydraulic type in which a hand operated pump is employed for pumping the operating fluid, in Figs. III, IV, and V, I have shown the device as being operated by a prime mover as an internal combustion hydrocarbon engine 54. A pump 55 is driven through suitable reduction gears and connections not here shown. The pump fluid passes from the pump 55 through suitable piping connections 56 into a receiving holder 51. The pump 55 receives the fluid from a sump 58 to which sump the pump 51 is connected. A pressure indicator 59 is in communication with the interior of the receiver 51. A safety valve 60 is associated with the pressure indicator 59. The operating fluid is delivered to the cylinder 31 by a suitable piping connection 6!. A hand operated valve 62 controls the flow of fluid from the receiver 51 into the pipe 6|. A pipe 63 also communicates the receiver 51 with the cylinder 45. A hand manipulated valve 64 is disposed within the pipe 63 to control the flow of fluid from the holder 51 into the cylinder 45.

Each of the tie engaging heads is comprised of a frame 65. The jaws in one side of the head are fixed with one of the jaws 66 being movable. Leader pins 61 are carried by the movable jaws 56. A cylinder 68 is disposed within the frame 65, with a piston 69 being reciprocably disposed within the cylinder and an end of the piston rod 10 being fixed to the movable jaw 66. Operating fluid under pressure is delivered from the receiver 51 through a tube 'H to move the piston rod and the jaw in one direction. A tube 12 delivers a fluid from the receiver 51 into the opposite end 13 of the cylinder 58, thus providing from the frame 65 of the head. The jaw 66 as well as the opposite end of the head 65 carries a plurality of teeth 14, with the teeth being journaled relative to the jaw and head by suitable pins to provide effective means for grasping the tie by the teeth carried by the jaw and head.

It will be noted that suitable piping l6 and 11 lead from the valve I8 to the respective ends of the cylinder 45 and that the valve 78 is in communication with the receiver 51 through suitable piping connections 19.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination with a railway track, a piston and a cylinder with the piston being reciprocably mounted in the cylinder, a pump for supplying a fluid under pressure to the cylinder, an ejecting head carried by the piston rod for engaging a tie on its top surface, a rail-engaging frame to support the cylinder, a tensioning member secured at one end to said frame and having at its other end a bridging board to engage the ends of ties adjacent the tie to be removed, said cylinderbeing hingedly secured to the rail-engaging frame.

2. In a device of the class described comprising in combination a head, pintle shafts carried by the head, a hydraulic cylinder with the cylinder being hingedly supported upon the pintle shafts, a fluid pump carried by the cylinder and adapted for supplying a fluid under pressure into the cylinder, a. sump tank carried by the cylinder, a supporting arm rearwardly extending from the head and disposed above the cylinder and being immovable relative to the head, a spring disposed between the arm and the cylinder to form a counterbalance for the cylinder, a foot disposed upon the lower end of the head and positioned to engage the ball of a railway rail, a tensioning member secured upon its one end to the head and secured upon its opposite end to a boot and to a bridge board, a piston and a piston rod disposed within said cylinder and a tie engaging head hingedly secured to the outer end of the piston rod with said tie engaging head adapted to engage the top of a railway tie to be ejected thereby. I

3. In a device of the class described comprising in combination a cylinder, a support for the cylinder with said support adapted to engage each of the rails comprising a railway track for hingedly supporting the cylinder relative thereto, a piston and piston rod associated with the cylinder, a fluid pump for supplying a fluid under pressure into the cylinder and for exerting an outward pressure on the piston and a tie engaging head secured to the outer end of the piston rod and adapted for engaging the top of a railway tie that is to be removed.

4. In a device of the class described in combination with a railway track, comprising a hydraulic cylinder, a head for supporting said cylinder on one of the rails of the track, hinging means for securing the cylinder to the head, a piston, and a piston rod associated with the cylinder, with said cylinder and piston rod being disposed transversely of one of the rails of the track, a tie engaging head carried by the piston rod, and a fluid pump for pumping a fluid into the cylinder for operating the piston disposed in the cylinder and adjustable means for securing the head to the other one of the rails forming the rack.

5. In a device of the class described in combination with :a railway track, a hydraulic cylinder; a head carrying .pintle shaftsjor, hingedly supporting the cylinder, atie pushing piston and piston rod powered bya fluid under pressure, associatedwith the cylinder, a tie engaginghead carried by'the piston rod and means efiecting engagement between the tie engaging head and the tie and for imparting longitudinal movement to thetie-when engaged by the head and manually manipulative means for motivating the piston within the cylinder.

6. In a device of the'class-described in combination with a railway track, comprisinga-cylinder, a support for the cylinder and. adapted for supporting-the cylinder in-superposed position relative tovthe rails of the track with the cylinderbeing tiltable. relative to the support, apiston rodand a piston associated with the cylinder,- apurnp adapted forsupplying afiuid under pressure to thetcylinder atieengaging head car- .to the head, the other end of which is secured to the otherone of the rails of a railway track,

a cylinder hingedly secured to the head, a piston and vpiston rod associated with the cylinder, a pump. in communication with the cylinder, means for actuating thepumpand a tie engaging head carried by the piston rod.

,HARRY B. HUGHES. 

